Philmont Scout Ranch is the Boy Scouts of America's premier high-adventure base with more than 200 square miles of rugged wilderness located near the historic town of Cimarron in northern New Mexico. Philmont offers a series of challenging backpacking treks, horseback cavalcades, and training and service programs. The land rises from the eastern plains to the awe-inspiring Southern Rockies. These beautiful high peaks, the Sangre de Cristo range, are called the Magic Mountains.
Programs have evolved over the years with a summer backpacking experience being the most popular. Scouts spend twelve days in this beautiful and rugged land being challenged by the high peaks of the Magic Mountains, breathing the ponderosa pine, lying down in the high mountain meadows, meeting the mountain men and women of long ago, learning the ways of the native peoples, and standing in awe of the courage of out American and Mexican pioneers. During their hike, Scouts experience rock climbing, shooting sports, gold panning and horse rides, just to name a few activities. They also learn conservation of the land through Leave No Trace camping and a project that improves Philmont.